Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-03-31
AN UNLUCKY MAN.
How Gutenberg Was Betrayed
by False Fust.
The Unfortunate But Great Inventor of
Printing and the Conspiracy Against
Him, in Which Pretty
Woman Figures.

When we walk into printing Office
and see the comparative ease with
which this wonderful business is con-
Quoted, the mind is carried back to the
days when printing was in its infancy,
the days when John Gutenberg
exhibited his first proof to his friend
Fust.
John Gensheisch, surnamed Guten-
berg, was born in Mentz, Germany, in
1897, and died in 1863. He moved to Stras-
burg, where he devoted himself to me-
chanical pursuits, and was at length
led to give some attention to typog-
raphy.
Previous to Gutenberg's discovery,
what was known as wood-cutting was
practiced. Blocks were made of soft
wood on which letters were cut, and
from this books were printed. Only
one side of the paper could be printed
on, and the expedient was resorted
to of FASTING two blank sides to-
gether so that it might appear that
both sides bore the impression. This
way of printing was attended with
many inconvenience; the blocks were
always getting injured and then only
one work could be printed from the
blocks especially prepared. Movable
type was not thought OF, by which
words and sentences could be arranged,
and when the thought did flash into
shape, wonderful revolution was eff
fected in printing. Then it was that
knowledge took wings, and learning
that had hitherto been confined to
favored few, now became the property
of the many. If wood-cutting was a
step forward from manuscript, print
ing was many steps forward from wood
cutting.
After having perfected his discovery,
Gutenberg returned from Strasburg to
Mentz, it being twelve years from the
time the thought first flashed into his
mind. 1t was only proper that the
Bible should be the first book printed,
that book which had been locked up in
the archives of the learned, and for a
sight of which countless thousands"
asked in vain. With this golden key he
had made, Gutenberg unlocked the
archives, took the precious volume
thence, and scattered the leaves, which
were for ''the healing of the nations, "
over the whole world. What god
like discovery! and how the telegraph,
the submarine cable and the electric
light sink into insignificance beside
this mighty giant that scatters light as
it goes and opens the courts of learn
ing to men of every degree.
Having exhausted his own means,
Gutenberg entered into partnership
with rich citizen of Mentz to carry on
the printing business. The first books
printed were Bibles in the Latin
language, but six of which now exist,
two being in this country. They are
known as the Mazarine Bible, and are
said to be a marvel of the printer
work. So valuable are they that at a
sale in London, one printed upon paper
brought $4,000 gold, and another on
vellum brought $40, 900 gold. Although
more than four hundred years old, the
ink is still black and the paper white
the appearance of the page surprising
that of the best modern book.
1t was an unlucky day for Guten
berg when he called Fust his friene
and entered into partnership with him
He was man of wealth and position
but regarded this wonderful discovery
simply as means of money-getting
He made close bargain with Guten
berg, and even that he failed to keep
A lawsuit terminated the unfortunate
partnership, and Gutenberg saw him
self defrauded by Fust out of his print
ing-press, stock of paper, the printed
sheets of the Bible, and, in fact, the en-
tire contents of the Office.
Fust was fortunate in securing tn
services of Peter Schoffer, who ha'
learned the business of printing wit
Gutenberg, and, to secure his service
permanently, he gave him his daugh
ter in marriage. Not content with de
frauding Gutenberg out of his posses
sions, Fust tried to cheat him out
his fame by announcing, in Psalte
he published, that he and his son-lr
law were the inventors OF metalil
type. This book Gutenberg had worke
on for three years.
Thus impoverished, and with tw
powerful rivals to dispute his claim I
the invention which had caused hir